The Forrest City times., 1887-12-10
CORRESPONDENCE
INTERESTING COMMUNlCA- TONS FROM THE
 PEOPLE.
special Correspondence to TIE TIMES.
National W. c. T. U. Convention.

Representing the State of Arkansa as delegate to the National W. C. T U. convention. that convened a deemed it but right and proper to giv' your readers at least few items per taining to the convention.
 Upon arriving at Nashville we wer' received by a committee of the loca W. C. T. U.. who had 'busses ant carriages in waiting, in which we wer, driven to the various homes assigned to us. The convention met in Wat kins Institute. The hall was beauti fully decorated with bright-coloret shields, each bearing the name of | State, it's number of unions and theii membership. loyal temperance legions and their membership; also, handsome silk, satin and plush banners, of differ. ent shades, representing various de partments and States. The decora. tions of the platform were also quite elaborate aud artistic. Over all, in blue and gold, shoac the words National Woman's Christian Temper ance Union." Beautiful green arches depending from it's center encircled w. c. T. U.'' in flowers, and below it "For God and Home and Native Land'' and all around hung lovely banners. Among others was the handsome crim- son satin banner from Arkansas. A large magnolia was painted on it, and in gold letters the words, ''God is our refuge and strength
 Grouped on the platform were Miss Willard, Hannah Withall Smith, Mother Thompson, of Ohio, Mother Wallace, of Indiana, Mrs. Merri- weather, of Memphis. Runditi Rama bal, of India, in her native costume, Mrs. Burlingame, of Rhode Island, and others. The press was we'll repre- sented. The reporters were seated just in front of the platform. Among the newspaper representatives was Mrs. Field, the Catherine ColeN of the New Orleans Picayune. who has achieved great eminence in journalism. She is said to rank as the foremost journalist of her sex in the South. Her mission to Nashville was to report the proceedings of the convention, and also to write series of articles in re- gard to the city of Nashville
 Miss Willards annual address was pronounced the most eloquent address that ever emanated from the lips or pen of woman. She possesses in a high degree all the characteristics requisite to the finished scholar and speaker, being eloquent, pathetic, logical and learned. During the delivery of her address profound si- lence pervaded the entire auditorium. As a presiding officer she has but few equals. During the entire session of the convention she remained self possessed, even-tempered and the lovely woman the world knows her to be. What beautiful thought it is to know that a human being can possess SO much christian grace and dwell upon such high plane of spirituality as to be always kind and gentle.
 The evening sessions were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, it's seating capacity being larger than Watkins Institute. On Wednesday evening Gov. Taylor, of Tennessee, and Mrs. Merriwether, of Memphis, deliver ed addresses of welcome. Gov. Fay lor's talk was brief, but quite beautiful and impressive. Mrs. Merriwether' speech was quite lengthy, but none the less interesting because of it's length Portions of her address were quite humorous, but much of it was pathetic She is very talented lady, and one of whom we can feel justly proud. She waved together the palmetto and the pine, emblematic of a union of the North and South. burying all sectional animosities and differences. All this is attributable to the beautiful work oi the w. c. T. U., inspiring the indi. vidual with higher, nobler and more Christ-like thoughts than to cherish prejudices. Christian women from East, West, North and South join hearts and hands in this great reform to banish from our country the great. est curse and the vilest enemy of the home the world has ever known--tht liquor traffic. How cautions should we be of the wine cup, as it has been a fountain of bitterness, not one oi sweet memories, pure joys and exalted hopes.
 Runditi Ramabia, a native of IIindoo stan, vice- president of India, delivered an address giving description of the lives of the women of Hindoostan especially the 10000 900 of high-caste child-widows, whose lives are more miserable than that of a slave, being one of persecution and suffering because they have been so unfortunate as to lose by death their husbands oi those to whom they were betrothed Runditi is student of the Medical College of Philadelphia. She expects to return to her native country when she has graduated. She appeals to the people of America to give her S200 ,00t to erect a college for the education of the women of her country, who, as she says are little above the brutes in in telligence and enlightenment. A col lection was taken, which resulted in $l 800 being contributed for the pur- pose.
 Mrs. Carse, of Chicago, read very excellent paper concerning the erec- tion of temperance temple in the heart of the city of Chicago, under the auspices of the National w. c. T. U. It is to be twelve stories high, at cost of $500 900. The inscription upon it's front will be, ''Woman's National Christian Temperance Union Build ing" The building will have .2 front age on three streets, with several foun- tains of water flowing constantly, from which all persons can drink freely. This will be the national heapquarters A collection was taken for this temple, resulting in $l0.000 being subscribed for the purpose, being evidenced that women more freely give than receive.
 On Sabbath day sixty sermons and lectures were delivered by women in the various churches and halls of Nash vile. We had the pleasure of listening to Rev. Annie Shaw, of Boston, who, with uncovered head, read her text from the Bible and delivered the an nual sermon, sublime in it's nature and breathing the love of God in every sen tence. Miss Shaw is a consecrated wo- man, imbued with a massive intellect. We were amused at one of our home ministers asking us why we did not have man to deliver the annual ser mon. Whereupon 1 remarked that the women were capable of conducting their own meetings. As rule 1 be- lieve the gentlemen composing presby- tories, conferences, synods, etc., do not invite ladies to deliver the annual ad- dresses.
 CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
 From yVvnna